Journalist Found in Contempt of Court for Taking Pictures of Jessica Chambers Jurors

A camera man was found in contempt of court Thursday in the murder trial of Quinton Verdell Tellis. The court ruled that he took pictures of jurors, which is prohibited.

“In my presence today at the jail, those rules were immediately violated by a member of the press,” District 17 Circuit Judge Gerald Chatham Sr. said in court. “I took immediate action. I confiscated the camera. It appeared to me that the camera was taking a picture of the jury, which is absolutely and strictly forbidden.”

The judge brought the camera into his chambers, where he reviewed the camera, and found images of the jury.

The man was fined $100, and given a suspended sentence for 30 days in jail. If he is found to have broken the rules again, he will be locked up for those 30 days. He apologized in court, explaining the pictures by saying he was “confused about the situation.”

Tellis is on trial for the capital murder for Jessica Chambers. Prosecutors say he lit the victim’s car on fire, leading to her death.